Method in an electronic spreadsheet for persistently self-replicating multiple ranges of cells through a copy-paste operation and a self-replication table

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes a method and system for persistently self-replicating multiple ranges of cells through a copy-paste operation, in a multi dimensional spreadsheet. A set of ranges of cells is defined, wherein each range of cells has the same size. Each time the content of a range of cells belonging to this set is changed, a self-replication operation is performed automatically. The self-replication operation includes the steps of copying the changed range of cells onto a buffer; determining the set of ranges of cells to which the changed range of cells belongs to; identifying the ranges of cells belonging to the set; and pasting the content of the buffer in each of identified range of cells belonging to the set.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of information processing by digital computers, and more particularly to a method and system, in an electronic spreadsheet, for persistently self-replicating multiple ranges of cells through a copy-paste operation.

BACKGROUND

Before computers, numerical analyses, particularly financial ones, were usually prepared on an accountant's columnar pad or spreadsheet, with pencil and calculator in hand. By organizing data into columns and rows, spreadsheets afford the rapid assimilation of information by a reader. The task of preparing a spreadsheet on paper, however, is laborious. The process tends to be very slow, as each entry must be tediously calculated and entered into the spreadsheet. Since all calculations are the responsibility of the preparer, manually prepared spreadsheets are also prone to errors. Hence, preparation of spreadsheets by hand is slow, tedious, and unreliable.

With the advent of microcomputers, a solution was forthcoming in the form of “electronic spreadsheets.” Better known simply as “spreadsheets,” these software programs provide a computerised replacement for the traditional financial modelling tools: the accountant's columnar pad, pencil, and calculator. In some regards, spreadsheet programs are to those tools what word processors are to typewriters. Spreadsheets offer dramatic improvements in ease of creating, editing, and using financial models.

A typical spreadsheet program configures the memory of a computer to resemble the column/row or grid format of an accountant's columnar pad, thus providing a visible calculator for a user. Because this “pad” exists dynamically in the computer's memory, however, it differs from paper pads in several important ways. Locations in the electronic spreadsheet, for example, must be communicated to the computer in a format which it can understand. A common scheme for accomplishing this is to assign a number to each row in a spreadsheet, a letter to each column, and another letter to each sheet (or page) of the spreadsheet. To reference a location at column A and row 1 of the second page (i.e., the upper-left hand corner), for example, the user types in “B:A1”. In this manner, the spreadsheet defines an addressable storage location or “cell” at each intersection of a row with a column within a given page.

Data entry into an electronic spreadsheet occurs in much the same manner that information would be entered on an accountant's pad. After a screen cursor is positioned at a desired location, the user can enter alphanumeric information. Besides holding text and numeric information, however, spreadsheet cells can store special instructions or “formulas” specifying calculations to be performed on the numbers stored in spreadsheet cells. Such spreadsheet cells can also be defined and named as a range as long as they are arranged as a contiguous set of cells. A typical example of such a named range simply corresponds to a regular table found in an accountant's pad. In this fashion, range names can serve as variables in an equation, thereby allowing precise mathematical relationships to be defined between cells. The structure and operation of a spreadsheet program, including advanced functions such as functions and macros, are documented in the technical, trade, and patent literature.

Electronic spreadsheets offer many advantages over their paper counterparts. For one, electronic spreadsheets are much larger (i.e., hold more information) than their paper counterparts; electronic spreadsheets having thousands or even millions of cells are not uncommon. Spreadsheet programs also allow users to perform “what-if” scenarios. After a set of computational relationships has been entered into a worksheet, thanks to imbedded formulas for instance, the spread of information can be recalculated using different sets of assumptions, with the results of each recalculation appearing almost instantaneously. Performing this operation manually, with paper and pencil, would require recalculating every relationship in the model with each change made. Thus, electronic spreadsheet systems were invented to solve “what-if’ problems, that is, changing an input and seeing what happens to an output.

Cell ranges are used to automate the computations in a spreadsheet. Whether cells or cell ranges are named or not, they can be referenced within a formula either by a “relative” or an “absolute” reference. Such a reference can be the address of the referenced cell range, or the name of the referenced cell range if it turns that this cell range is named.

It is common to find in electronic spreadsheet based applications some large tables which are organised according to a structured way. This structure typically results in organising rows, columns and sheets in such a way that the content of each of the cells within a given column and within a given sheet can be obtained as the result of a copy-paste operation where the source copied cell is any cell within this same column and same sheet. In such typical situations, this source cell can contain a formula referencing in a relative or absolute way one or several other cells, so that each of the other cells within the same column of the same sheet will also contain the same formula where the absolute references will be kept unchanged and where the relative references will point to other relative cells.

Such a typical situation is illustrated in FIG. 3A where a table is used to compute a sales item price according to some input data. In this table, the content of the cell with address C6 (column entitled “Unit Cost”) is for instance equal to the formula “@CostOf(B6)” where @CostOf is a dedicated function providing the cost of an item passed as parameter. In the same table, the content of the cell with address G6 (column entitled “Exchange rate”) is for instance equal to the formula “@RateOf(F6)” where @RateOf is a dedicated function returning the exchange rate for a currency passed as parameter. In the same table, the content of the cell with address I6 (column entitled “Price”) is for instance equal to the formula “C6*D6*G6/(1−$PROFIT)” where “PROFIT” is the name given to the cell range with address I3 where the profit figure is recorded. The content of each cell within the “Unit Cost” table can be obtained by copy-pasting the cell with address C6, so that the content of the cell with address Cx (where x takes the values 7 to 10) is found equal to “@CostOf(Bx)”. In this way, each of the cells with address C6 to C10 is virtually a “replicate” of all the other cells with address C6 to C10 through a copy-paste operation, meaning that any cell within this set can be derived from any other one within the same set through a copy-paste operation. Similarly, the content of the cells with address Gx and with address Ix are obtained by copy-pasting the content of the cells with address G6 and with address I6, respectively. The content is equal to “@RateOf(Fx)” and to “Cx*Dx*Gx/(1−$PROFIT)” respectively. Thus, the cells with address G6 to G10 and the cells with address I6 to I10 are virtually “self replicating” through a copy-paste operation. The copy-paste operation is thus a powerful tool for applying in many different cells, or ranges of cells, the content of a given cell or of a given range of cells. Nevertheless this copy-paste operation presents some limitations, as outlined hereafter.

Assume that in our example the content of the cells within a table column needs to be updated to reflect some structural change of the table it belongs to. Such a structural change is illustrated in FIG. 3B where the profit parameter (used to derive a price from a cost) is no longer constant for all sold items (as shown in FIG. 3A with the cell of address I3, and named “PROFIT”), but depends on the sold item itself, as represented in the table by the cells within the column entitled “Profit”. Under this new rule, the content of the cell with address I6 (within the column entitled “Price”) is now equal to the formula “C6*D6*G6/(1−H6)”. In order to reflect this table structural update in the other cells of the same “Price” column, it is necessary to reapply the copy-paste operation from the top column cell to all the other column cells following the same logic, that is the cells with address I7 to I10 as shown in FIG. 3B. More generally, this operation must be carefully done each time a given range of cells content is updated and must be applied to all the other ranges of cells which have been initially self replicated with this given range of cells through a copy-paste operation.

With large and complex spreadsheets, such a task may take quite a long time and be error prone, because the spreadsheet user may miss some of the ranges of cells where the copy-paste operation must be reapplied. When this happens, the resulting spreadsheet provides erroneous results. The present invention offer a powerful and efficient solution to this problem by defining a method and a system for persistently self-replicating multiple ranges of cells through a copy-paste operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of information processing by digital computers, and more particularly to a method and system for persistently self-replicating multiple ranges of cells through a copy-paste operation, in a multi dimensional spreadsheet. The method comprises the steps of:

-   -   defining a set of ranges of cells, each range of cells having         the same size;     -   each time the content of a range of cells belonging to this set         is changed, automatically performing a self-replication         operation, the self-replication operation comprising the steps         of:         -   copying the changed range of cells onto a buffer;         -   determining the set of ranges of cells to which the changed             range of cells belongs to;         -   identifying the ranges of cells belonging to the set; and         -   pasting the content of the buffer in each identified range             of cells belonging to the set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein::

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a computer system in which the present invention may be embodied.

FIG. 1B is a schematic view a software system including an operating system, software application, and a user interface for carrying out the present invention.

FIG. 1C illustrates the basic architecture and functionality of a graphical user interface in which the present invention may be embodied.

FIG. 2A shows a spreadsheet notebook interface according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows the toolbar component of the notebook interface shown in FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 2C and 2D show page identifiers for rapidly accessing and manipulating individual pages of the notebook interface shown in FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a typical spreadsheet structure used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the structure of the persistent self-replication table, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, illustrate a spreadsheet user interface for invoking the persistent self-replicating operation, according to the present invention.

FIGS. 6A, 6B are a flow chart illustrating a method for managing objects involved in Persistent Self-Replication operations, according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method for performing a persistent copy-paste operation, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

System Hardware

As shown in FIG. 1A, the present invention may be embodied on a computer system 100 comprising a central processor 101, a main memory 102, an input/output controller 103, a keyboard 104, a pointing device 105 (e.g., mouse, track ball, pen device, or the like), a display device 106, and a mass storage 107 (e.g., hard disk). Additional input/output devices, such as a printing device 108, may be included in the system 100 as desired. As illustrated, the various components of the system 100 communicate through a system bus 110 or similar architecture. In a preferred embodiment, the computer system 100 includes an IBM-compatible personal computer, which is available from several vendors (including International Business Machine—IBM Corporation of Armonk, N.Y.).

Illustrated in FIG. 1B, a computer software system 150 is provided for directing the operation of the computer system 100. Software system 150, which is stored in system memory 102 and on disk memory 107, includes a kernel or operating system 151 and a shell or interface 153. One or more application programs, such as application software 152, may be “loaded’ (i.e., transferred from storage 107 into memory 102) for execution by the system 100. The system 100 receives user commands and data through user interface 153; these inputs may then be acted upon by the system 100 in accordance with instructions from operating system 151 and/or application software 152. The interface 153, which is preferably a graphical user interface (GUI), also serves to display results, whereupon the user may supply additional inputs or terminate the session. In a preferred embodiment, operating system 151 and interface 153 are Microsoft Win95, available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. Application software 152, on the other hand, includes a spreadsheet notebook of the present invention as described in further detail herein below.

Interface

A. Introduction

The following description will focus on embodiments of the present invention that include spreadsheet applications operative in the Microsoft Win95 environment. The present invention, however, is not limited to any particular application or any particular environment. Instead, those skilled in the art will find that the system and methods of the present invention may be advantageously applied to a variety of system and application software, including database management systems, word processors, and the like. Moreover, the present invention may be embodied on a variety of different platforms, including Macintosh, UNIX, NextStep, and the like. Therefore, the descriptions of the exemplary embodiments which follows are for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

Referring now to FIG. 1C, the system 100 includes a workspace or window 160. Window 160 is a rectangular, graphical user interface (GUI) for display on screen 106; additional windows may be displayed in various sizes and formats (e.g., tiled or cascaded), as desired. At the top of window 160 is a menu bar 170 with a plurality of user-command choices, each of which may invoke additional submenus and software tools for use with application objects. Window 160 includes a client area 180 for displaying and manipulating screen objects, such as graphic object 181 and text object 182. In essence, the client area is a workspace or viewport for the user to interact with data objects which reside within the computer system 100.

Window 160 includes a screen cursor or pointer 185 for selecting and otherwise invoking screen objects of interest. In response to user movement signals from the pointing device 105, the cursor 185 floats (i.e., freely moves) across the screen 106 to a desired screen location. During or after cursor movement, the user may generate user-event signals (e.g., mouse button “clicks” and “drags”) for selecting and manipulating objects, as is known in the art. For example, window 160 may be closed, re-sized, or scrolled by “clicking” (selecting) screen components 172, 174/5, and 177/8, respectively.

In a preferred embodiment, screen cursor 185 is controlled with a mouse device. Single-button, double-button, or triple-button mouse devices are available from a variety of vendors, including Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif., Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., and Logitech Corporation of Fremont, Calif., respectively. More preferably, screen cursor control device 105 is a two-button mouse device, including both right and left “mouse buttons.”

Programming techniques and operations for mouse devices are well documented in the programming and hardware literature; see e.g., Microsoft Mouse Programmer's Reference, Microsoft Press, 1989. The general construction and operation of a GUI event-driven system, such as Microsoft Windows, is also known in the art: see, e.g., Petzold, C., Programming Windows, Second Edition, Microsoft Press, 1990. The disclosures of each are hereby incorporated by reference.

B. Preferred Interface

A spreadsheet notebook interface of the present invention will now be described. As shown in FIG. 2A, the spreadsheet notebook or workbook of the present invention includes a notebook workspace 200 for receiving, processing, and presenting information, including alphanumeric as well as graphic information. Notebook workspace 200 includes a menu bar 210, a toolbar 220, a current cell indicator 230, an input line 231, a status line 240, and a notebook window 250. The menu bar 210 displays and invokes, in response to user inputs, a main level of user commands. Menu 210 also invokes additional pull down menus, as is known in windowing applications. Input line 231 accepts user commands and information for the entry and editing of cell contents, which may include data, formulas, macros, and the like. Indicator 230 displays an address for the current cursor (i.e., active cell) position, or the address or name of a selected named range (i.e. active selection). At the status line 240, system 100 displays information about the current state of the workbook; for example, a “READY” indicator means that the system is ready for the user to select another task to be performed.

The toolbar 220, shown in further detail in FIG. 2B, comprises a row or palette of tools which provide a quick way for the user to choose commonly-used menu commands or properties. In an exemplary embodiment, toolbar 220 includes file manipulation buttons 221, printing buttons 222, an undo button 223, cut, copy, and paste buttons 224, information pop-up window buttons tool 225, a named range selection button 226, a style copy button 227, a column re-sizing button 228, and a sum button 229. The functions of these buttons are suggested by their names. For instance, buttons 224 cut, copy and paste data and objects to and from Windows' clipboard. The same actions are also available as corresponding commands in the Edit menu (available from menu bar 210).

The notebook, which provides an interface for entering and displaying information of interest, includes a plurality of spreadsheet pages. Each page may include conventional windowing features and operations, such as moving, re-sizing, and deleting. In a preferred embodiment, the notebook includes 256 spreadsheet pages, all of which are saved as a single disk file on the mass storage 107. Workspace 200 may display one or more notebooks, each sized and positioned (e.g., tiled, overlapping, and the like) according to user-specified constraints.

Each spreadsheet page of a notebook includes a two-dimensional spread. Page A from the notebook 200, for example, includes a grid in row and column format, such as row 3 and column F. At each row/column intersection, a box or cell (e.g., cell C4) is provided for entering, processing, and displaying information in a conventional manner. Each cell is addressable, with a selector being provided for indicating a currently active cell (i.e., the cell that is currently selected).

As shown in FIGS. 2C-D, individual notebook pages are identified by page identifiers 260, preferably located along one edge of a notebook. In a preferred embodiment, each page identifier is in the form of a tab member (e.g., members 261 a, 262 a, 263 a) situated along a top edge of the notebook. Each tab member may include representative indicia, such as textual or graphic labels, including user selected titles representing the contents of a corresponding page. In FIG. 2C, the tab members 260 are set to their respective default names. For example, the first three tab members (members 261 a, 262 a, 263 a) are respectively set to A, B, and C. Tab members are typically given descriptive names provided by the user, however. As shown in FIG. 2D, for example, the first three tab members have now been set to “Contents” (tab member 261 b), “Summary” (tab member 262 b), and “Jan” (tab member 263 b). In a similar manner, the remaining tabs are set to subsequent months of the year. In this manner, the user associates the page identifiers with familiar tabs from an ordinary paper notebook. Thus, the user already knows how to select a page or spread of interest: simply select the tab corresponding to the page (as one would do when selecting a page from a paper notebook).

In addition to aiding in the selection of an appropriate page of information, the user-customizable page identifiers serve to aid in the entry of spreadsheet named range addresses. For example, when entering a formula referring to a named range of cells on another page, the user may simply use the descriptive page name in the named range address, thus making it easier for the user to understand the relationship of the cell(s) or information being referenced.

A general description of the features and operation of the spreadsheet notebook interface may be found in Quattro Pro for Windows (Getting Started, User's Guide and Building Spreadsheet Applications), available from Borland International.

Persistent Self-Replication Operation

A. Introduction

As the power of spreadsheet environments has increased over the last several years, it is possible today to develop complex custom applications based solely on spreadsheets, as opposed to applications developed with general purpose programming languages like C++ or VisualBasic from Microsoft Corporation. This can be achieved using spreadsheet imbedded tools such as macro languages, script languages, and formulas. In large spreadsheets, it is common to find structured tables where the content of some cells are directly derived from the contents of other cells using formulas which translate the relationship between these cells.

Such formulas can be quite complex, consequently it is advantageous to copy-paste such a formula, once established, from a given cell onto all the other cells where the same relationship exists. If this relationship evolves during the life of a spreadsheet, however, then the spreadsheet user must first update a first cell content (typically rewriting the formula it holds), and then the spreadsheet user must again perform a copy-paste operation between this first cell and all the cells whose content was previously obtained from the reference cell content with a copy-paste operation. In addition to the time spent by the user in performing this operation, there is a risk of applying this new copy-paste operation to the wrong set of cells: either some cells that need to be copy-pasted again may be missed, or some cells may be copy-pasted that should not be. In both cases, the resulting spreadsheet has been incorrectly updated, so that it provides erroneous results.

The present invention offers a user-friendly solution to this problem by defining a method and system that enables persistent self-replication of multiple ranges of cells through a copy-paste operation.

B. Self-Replication Manager

In contrast to the conventional tools just-described, the present invention provides a more powerful, user-friendly and interactive approach for persistently self-replicating multiple ranges of cells through a copy-paste operation using a Self-Replication manager. The manager automatically allows the spreadsheet user to:

-   -   create or rename or delete a set of persistently         self-replicating ranges of cells, or     -   add or suppress a given range of cells to or from a set of         persistently self-replicating ranges of cells, and     -   self-replicate any content update from a given range of cells         belonging to a set of persistently self-replicating ranges of         cells to all the other ranges of cells belonging to the same set         of persistently self-replicating ranges of cells.

For descriptive clarity, a persistently self-replicating range of cells which can take advantage of the present invention will be called “persistently self-replicating range” or “PSRR”, and a set of PSRR will be called “persistently self-replicating set” or “PSRS”

C. Persistently Self-replicating Range and Persistently Self-replicating Set

In a preferred embodiment, PSRR can be easily identified on the display device 106 within the work area 180 of the window 160 by using some specific cell attributes, such as a font style or font color or background color or border line style or border line color or background pattern, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the background pattern of a PSRR is set to a first pattern value referred to as PATTERN_PSRR. PSRS are uniquely identified by a logical identifier which can take multiple forms. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, PSRS are uniquely identified by a name corresponding to a character string of limited length.

D. Scenario

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention may be used in two steps:

-   -   The first step occurs when the spreadsheet user decides, based         on criteria not developed here, to take advantage of the present         invention by using the self-replication manager for either         creating, or deleting, or renaming a PSRS; or for either adding         or removing a PSRR to/from a PSRS. If so, the spreadsheet user         can follow in sequence the following steps:         -   First the spreadsheet user optionally selects a range of             cells by using conventional means such as (but not limited             to) the pointing device 105 or the keyboard 104.         -   Then the spreadsheet user invokes an extension of the             regular spreadsheet editing facilities using conventional             means available in spreadsheet environment, such as (but not             limited to) dedicated push-buttons, keyboard entry short             cuts, menu or sub menu entries. This extension of the             regular editing facilities corresponds to a specific command             called “Self_Replication_Manager”. In a preferred embodiment             of the present invention, this Self_Replication_Manager             command is invoked by clicking with the pointing device 105             on a menu entry 501 “Self Replication” within the             conventional “Edit” menu 500 of an electronic spreadsheet,             as shown in FIG SA. It results in displaying on the display             device 106 a specific Self-Replication Dialog Box 510, as             shown in FIG 5B.         -   Then the spreadsheet user can take advantage of the             different tools available within the Self-Replication Dialog             Box 510, according to the following list:         -   The “Name” text box 511 and the “Create” push-button 517 can             be used to create a new PSRS. For this purpose the             spreadsheet user first fills this “Name” text box 511 with             the name of the new PSRS to be created and then clicks on             the “Create” push-button 517. As a result, the newly created             PSRS now appears within the “Existing PSRS” list box 512.         -   The “Existing PSRS” list box 512 and the “Delete”             push-button 518 can be used to delete an existing PSRS. For             this purpose, the spreadsheet user first selects within the             “Existing PSRS” list box 512 the name of the PSRS to be             deleted (if not visible within the “Existing PSRS” list box             512, the spreadsheet user can simply use the scroll bar 523             with the pointing device 105 to let the desired PSRS name             appear within the “Existing PSRS” list box 512), and then             clicks on the “Delete” push-button 518. As a result, the             just deleted PSRS disappears from the “Existing PSRS” list             box 512.         -   The “Name” text box 511, the “Existing PSRS” list box 512             and the “Rename” push-button 519 can be used to change the             name of an existing PSRS. For this purpose, the spreadsheet             user first selects within the “Existing PSRS” list box 512             the name of the PSRS to be renamed (if not visible within             the “Existing PSRS” list box 512, the spreadsheet user can             simply use the scroll bar 523 with the pointing device 105             to let the desired PSRS name appear within the “Existing             PSRS” list box 512), then fills the “Name” text box 511 with             the new name of the PSRS, and then clicks on the “Rename”             push-button 518. As a result, the new name of the existing             PSRS now appears within the “Existing PSRS” list box 512.         -   The “Existing PSRR members” list box 513 can be used to             visualize all the PSRRS belonging to the PSRS currently             selected within the “Existing PSRS” list box 512. To do             this, the spreadsheet user first selects within the             “Existing PSRS” list box 512 the name of the PSRS to be             visualized (if not visible within the “Existing PSRS” list             box 512, the spreadsheet user can simply use the scroll bar             523 with the pointing device 105 to let the desired PSRS             name appear within the “Existing PSRS” list box 512), and             then clicks on the scroll bar 524 with the pointing device             105 to display in the “Existing PSRR members” list box 513             every PSRR belonging to the PSRS selected in the “Existing             PSRS” list box 512.         -   The “Existing PSRR members” list box 513 and the “Suppress”             push-button 521 can be used to remove a given PSRR from the             PSRS currently selected within the “Existing PSRS” list box             512. To do this, the spreadsheet user first selects within             the “Existing PSRS” list box 512 the name of the PSRS from             which one member must be removed (if not visible within the             “Existing PSRS” list box 512, the spreadsheet user can             simply use the scroll bar 523 with the pointing device 105             to let the desired PSRS name appear within the “Existing             PSRS” list box 512). The user then selects within the             “Existing PSRR members” list box 513 the name of the PSRR to             be removed (if not visible within the “Existing PSRR             members” list box 513, the spreadsheet user can simply use             the scroll bar 524 with the pointing device 105 to let the             desired PSRR name appear within the “Existing PSRR members”             list box 513), and then clicks on the “Suppress” push-button             521. As a result, the just deleted PSRR disappears from the             “Existing PSRR” list box 513, and its background pattern is             changed from the value PATTERN_PSRR to its original value             (before it was turned as a PSRR).         -   The “Range” text box 514, the “Select” push-button 522 and             the “Add” push-button 520 can be used to add a new PSRR to             the PSRS currently selected within the “Existing PSRS” list             box 512. To do this, the spreadsheet user first checks that             the “Range” text box 514 holds the address of the range of             cells to be added. By default, the “Range” text box 514             contains the address of the range of cells which was             selected in the electronic spreadsheet just before invoking             the Self_Replication_Manager command. The user can change             this default range by clicking on the “Select” push-button             522 and then use the pointing device 105 to select the             desired range of cells within the electronic spreadsheet.             When the “Range” text box 514 holds the address of the right             range of cells to be added, the user clicks on the “Add”             push-button 520. As a result, the newly added PSRR now             appears within the “Existing PSRR members” list box 513, and             its background pattern is changed into a new pattern with             value PATTERN_PSRR.         -   The “Cancel” push-button 516 and the “OK” push-button 515             can be used by the spreadsheet user to close the             Self-Replication Dialog Box 510.     -   The second step occurs when the spreadsheet user updates a cell         belonging to a PSRR which is itself a member of a PSRS:         -   If the spreadsheet user updates the content of a cell             belonging to a PSRR, the self-replication manager invokes by             itself a specific command called “Persistent_Self_Replicate”             which automatically reflects this update in all the other             PSRR belonging to the same PSRS than the updated PSRR. This             “Persistent_Self_Replicate” operation is fully automated,             without involvement of the spreadsheet user, and is itself             based on a copy-paste operation applied by the             self-replication manager between the updated PSRR and all             the other PSRR belonging to the same PSRS.

-   E. Persistent Self-Replication Table

The decision to create, delete, or rename a PSRS, or to add or suppress a PSRR to or from a PSRS, belongs to the spreadsheet user. When such an operation occurs, a common repository, called the “Persistent Self-Replication Table”, is used to record the data required by this operation. This Persistent Self-Replication Table is preferably saved on a non volatile memory (typically but not necessary as part of the spreadsheet disk file on the mass storage 107.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the Persistent Self-Replication Table 400 corresponds to a simple logical structure made of several records 401, each of which corresponds to a PSRR and includes five fields:

-   -   The “PSRS Name” 402 field is used for identifying uniquely the         PSRS associated with the current record 401.     -   The “PSRR Address” 403 field is used for identifying uniquely         the PSRR within the spreadsheet. For instance, the “PSRR         Address” can correspond to the conventional address structure         Sheet:RowColumn..Sheet:RowColumn associated with every range of         cells (For example D:E10..D:G20 with D as Sheet name, E and G as         Row name/number, 10 and 20 as Column name/number).     -   The “PSRR Pattern” field 404 records the background pattern of         the PSRR, before being member of a PSRS.     -   The “Set Index” field 405 is used for navigating within the         Self-Replication Table 400.     -   The “Range Index” field 406 is used for navigating within the         Self-Replication Table 400.

The record 410 located at the beginning of the Persistent Self-Replication Table 400 is referred to as the top record.

In a preferred embodiment, the Persistent Self-Replication Table 400 is explicitly included within the spreadsheet file itself, but other implementations can be used instead.

F. Methods

F.1 Self_Replication_Manager Method

The method of handling user requests to take advantage of the present invention is detailed in flowchart 600 of FIGS. 6A, 6B. This method may be thought of as the processing of the Self_Replication_Manager command used for creating, or deleting, or renaming a PSRS, and for adding or suppressing a PSRR to or from a PSRS. The method comprises the following steps:

-   -   At step 601, the method is in its default state, waiting for an         event to initiate the process.     -   At step 602, an event is detected, as a result of a user action.         This action may be for instance, a specific combination of keys         on the keyboard 104, or the click of the pointing device 105 on         a specific button, or any other similar means not further         specified here.     -   At step 603, local variables are initialised: the PSRSindex         variable is set to the value 0, the PSRRindex variable is set to         the value 0, the NewName variable is set to the value “” (empty         string), and the NewRange variable is set to the character         string representing the address of the electronic spreadsheet         current selection.     -   At step 604, the Self-Replication Dialog Box 510 is displayed on         the display device 106. The “Name” text box 511 is filled with         the variable NewName. The “Existing PSRS” list box 512 is filled         with the names found in the “PSRS Name” fields 402 of the         various records 401 of the Self-Replicating Table 400. Within         the “Existing PSRS” list box 512, the active item corresponds to         the record 401 whose “Set Index” field 405 is equal to         PSRSIndex. The “Existing PSRR members” list box 513 is filled         with the addresses found in the “PSRR Address” fields 403 of the         various records 401 of the Self-Replicating Table 400 for which         the “Set Index” field 405 is equal to PSRSIndex. Within the         “Existing PSRR members” list box 513, the active item         corresponds to the record 401 whose “Range Index” field 406 is         equal to PSRRIndex. The “Range” text box 514 is filled with the         variable NewRange.     -   At step 605, the method is waiting for any user action on the         Self-Replication Dialog Box 510. Such user action typically         results from a click with the pointing device 105, but may be a         specific combination of keys on the keyboard 104, or any other         similar means not further specified here.     -   At step 606, a user action on the Self-Replication Dialog Box         510 is detected. If the user action is a change of the content         of the “Name” text box 511, then control is given to step 609;         if the user action is a selection with the pointing device 105         of an item within the “Existing PSRS” list box 512, then control         is given to step 622; if the user action is a selection with the         pointing device 105 of an item within the “Existing PSRR         members” list box 513, then control is given to step 621; if the         user action is a change of the content of the “Range” text box         514, then control is given to step 610; if the user action is a         click on the push-button “OK” 515, then control is given to step         607; if the user action is a click on the push-button “Cancel”         516, then control is given to step 607; if the user action is a         click on the push-button “Create” 517, then control is given to         step 627; if the user action is a click on the push-button         “Delete” 518, then control is given to step 626; if the user         action is a click on the push-button “Rename” 519, then control         is given to step 608; if the user action is a click on the         push-button “Add” 520, then control is given to step 624; if the         user action is a click on the push-button “Suppress” 521, then         control is given to step 625; if the user action is a click on         the push-button “Select” 522, then control is given to step 623;         if the user action is a click on the up arrow of the scroll bar         523, then control is given to step 618; if the user action is a         click on the down arrow of the scroll bar 523, then control is         given to step 611; if the user action is a click on the up arrow         of the scroll bar 524, then control is given to step 620; if the         user action is a click on the down arrow of the scroll bar 524,         then control is given to step 612.     -   At step 607, the Self-Replication Dialog Box 510 is closed, so         that it disappears from the display device 106, and control is         given back to the initial step 601 for treating any future         Self_Replication_Manager command.     -   At step 608, in the Self-Replication Table 400, all the records         401 having a “Set Index” field 405 equal to PSRSIndex are         updated by replacing their “PSRS name” field 402 by NewName.         Then control is given to step 631.     -   At step 609, the character string specified by the spreadsheet         user in the “Name” text box 511 is checked against all the         already defined PSRS names, as recorded in the “PSRS Name” field         402 of all the records 401 of the Self-Replication Table 400. If         the character string is new, i.e. it does not match any already         defined name, then control is given to step 616; otherwise         control is given to step 613.     -   At step 610, the character string specified by the spreadsheet         user in the “Range” text box 514 is checked against a set of         rules not detailed here to determine if it is or not a valid         range address. Such rules are typically implementation-dependent         and thus do not fall within the scope of the present invention.         If the result of this checking is that this character string is         found to be valid, then control is given to step 617, otherwise         control is given to step 613.     -   At step 611, the variable PSRSIndex is decremented, unless the         minimum value (equal to zero) has been reached. Then control is         given to step 619.     -   At step 612, the variable PSRRIndex is decremented, unless the         minimum value (equal to zero) has been reached. Then control is         given to step 631.     -   At step 613, an error message notification is issued to warn the         user that the character string checked at step 609 or 610 has         not been found to be correct. This can typically be done by         displaying on the display device 106 an error message in a         pop-up window, but any other similar means could be used         instead, without departing from the spirit of the present         invention.     -   At step 614, the method is waiting for a user acknowledgement,         meaning that the error message notification of step 613 has been         received by the spreadsheet user.     -   At step 615, the user acknowledgement is detected. This may         typically be a click, of the pointing device 105, on a “OK”         push-button within the pop-up window that is typically displayed         during the step 613, but other similar means can be used instead         without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Then         control is given to step 631.     -   At step 616, the value of the variable NewName is set equal to         the character string within the “Name” text box 511. Then         control is given to step 631.     -   At step 617, the value of the variable NewRange is set equal to         the character string within the “Range” text box 514. Then         control is given to step 631.     -   At step 618, the variable PSRSIndex is incremented, unless the         maximum value (equal to the number of different values of the         “PSRS Name” field 401) is already reached.     -   At step 619, the variable PSRRIndex is set equal to zero. Then         control is given to step 631.     -   At step 620, the variable PSRRIndex is incremented, unless the         maximum value (equal to the number of records 401 whose “Set         Index” field 405 is equal to PSRSIndex) has been reached. Then         control is given to step 631.     -   At step 621, the variable PSRRindex is set equal to the value of         the “Range Index” field 406 of the record 401 of the         Self-Replication table 400 corresponding to the user selection         of the “Existing PSRR members” list box 513. Then control is         given to step 631.     -   At step 622, the variable PSRSindex is set equal to the value of         the “Set Index” field 405 of the record 401 of the         Self-Replication table 400 corresponding to the user selection         of the “Existing PSRS” list box 512. Then control is given to         step 631.     -   At step 623, the method uses conventional means to let the user         select a range within the spreadsheet. Such means may, for         instance, rely on a pop-up window within which the user enters         through the keyboard 104 the address of the range to select, or         such means may rely on a pointing device 105 mode where the user         clicks on the range to select, or such means may rely on other         similar ways not further described here. Then control is given         to step 628.     -   At step 624, a new record 401 is added to the Self-Replication         table 400. The “PSRS Name” field 402 is set equal to the value         of the “PSRS Name” field 402 of the record 401 whose “Set Index”         field 405 is equal to PSRSIndex, the “PSRR Address” field 403 is         set equal to the variable NewRange, the “PSRR pattern” field 404         is set equal to the value of the background pattern of the range         with address NewRange, the “Set Index” field 405 is set equal to         PSRSindex, the “Range Index” field 406 is set equal to the         number of PSRR incremented by one. Then control is given to step         629.     -   At step 625, the background pattern of the range with address         equal to the value of the “PSRR Address” field 403 of the record         401 whose “Set Index” field 405 is equal to PSRSIndex and whose         “Range Index” field 406 is equal to PSRRIndex is set equal to         the value of the “PSRR pattern” field 404 of the record 401         whose “Set Index” field 405 is equal to PSRSIndex and whose         “Range Index” field 406 is equal to PSRRIndex. Then control is         given to step 630. The Persistent_Self_Replicate method is no         longer set as the routine handling the cell content modification         event for the range of cells with address equal to the value of         the “PSRR Address” field 403 of the record 401 whose “Set Index”         field 405 is equal to PSRSIndex and whose “Range Index” field         406 is equal to PSRRIndex.     -   At step 626, all the records 401 of the Self-Replication table         400 are deleted if their “Set Index” field 405 is equal to         PSRSIndex. Then the variable PSRSIndex is decremented, unless         equal to zero. Then control is given to step 631.     -   At step 627, a new record 401 is added to the Self-Replication         table 400. The “PSRS Name” field 402 is set equal to the         variable NewName, the “PSRR Address” field 403 is left empty,         the “PSRR pattern” field 404 is left empty, the “Set Index”         field 405 is set equal to the number of PSRS incremented by one,         and the “Range Index” field 406 is left empty. Then control is         given to step 631.     -   At step 628, the variable NewRange is set equal to the address         of the range retrieved at step 623. Then control is given to         step 631.     -   At step 629, the background pattern of the range of cells with         address equal to NewRange takes the value PATTERN_PSRR. The         Persistent_Self_Replicate method is set as the routine handling         the cell content modification event for the range of cells with         address equal to NewRange. Then control is given to step 631.     -   At step 630, the record 401 in the Self-Replication table 400         with “Set Index” field 405 equal to PSRSindex and with “Range         Index” field 406 equal to PSRRindex, is deleted. Then the         variable PSRRIndex is decremented, unless equal to zero.     -   At step 631, the Self-Replication Table 400 is first rearranged         and then sorted so that the set of values taken by the “Set         Index” fields 405 is contiguous and so that the sets of values         taken by the “Range Index” field 406 for a given value of the         “Set Index” field 405 are contiguous. Then the Self-replication         Dialog Box 510 display fields are refreshed. The “Name” text box         511 is filled with the variable NewName. The “Existing PSRS”         list box 512 is filled with the names found in the “PSRS Name”         fields 402 of the various records 401 of the Self-Replicating         Table 400. Within the “Existing PSRS” list box 512, the active         item corresponds to the record 401 whose “Set Index” field 405         is equal to PSRSIndex. The “Existing PSRR members” list box 513         is filled with the addresses found in the “PSRR Address” fields         403 of the various records 401 of the Self-Replicating Table 400         for which the “Set Index” field 405 is equal to PSRSIndex.         Within the “Existing PSRR members” list box 513, the active item         corresponds to the record 401 whose “Range Index” field 406 is         equal to PSRRIndex. The “Range” text box 514 is filled with the         variable NewRange. Then control is given back to step 605 for         waiting for a new user action to treat.         F.3. Persistent_Self_Replicate Method

The method for automatically reflecting an update of the content of a PSRR onto the other PSRR belonging to the same PSRS to take advantage of the present invention is summarized in flowchart 700 of FIG. 7. This method may be thought of as the processing of the “Persistent_Self_Replicate” command which is invoked each time the content of a PSRR is changed, as outlined in the step 629 of the Self_Replication_Manager method. The method comprises the following steps:

-   -   At step 701, the method is in its default state, waiting for an         event to initiate the process.     -   At step 702, an event is detected, as a result of a PSRR content         update.     -   At step 703, the address of the updated PSRR, considered as a         parameter of the Persistent_Self_Replicate command, is retrieved         under the name CurrPSRR.     -   At step 704, a regular copy operation is performed on the PSRR         with address CurrPSRR.     -   At step 705, the top record 410 of the Self-Replication Table         400 is set as the current record 401 of the table.     -   At step 706, the “PSRR Address” field 403 of the current record         401 of the Self-Replication Table 400 is compared against         CurrPSRR. If found equal, then control is given to step 707;         otherwise control is given to step 713.     -   At step 707, the local variable CurrSetIndex is set equal to the         value of the “Set Index” field 405 of the current record 401 of         the Self-Replication Table 400.     -   At step 708, the top record 410 of the Self-Replication Table         400 is set as the current record 401 of the table.     -   At step 709, the “Set Index” field 405 of the current record 401         of the Self-Replication Table 400 is compared against         CurrSetIndex. If found equal, then control is given to step 710;         otherwise control is given to step 711.     -   At step 710, a regular paste operation is performed on the range         of cells pointed by the “PSRR Address” field 403 of the current         record 401 of the Self-Replication Table 400.     -   At step 711, a test is performed to check if the current record         401 of the Persistent Copy-Paste Table 400 is in fact the last         record of this table. If it is the last record, then control is         given to the initial step 701 for handling any new future         command; otherwise control is given to step 712.     -   At step 712, the next record of the Persistent Copy-Paste Table         400 is set as the new current record 401 of this table. Then         control is given to step 709.     -   At step 713, a test is performed to check if the current record         401 of the Self-Replication Table 400 is in fact the last record         of this table. If it is the last record, then control is given         to step 714; otherwise control is given to step 715.     -   At step 714, a “Should Not Occur” condition is logged as it is         normally impossible not to find in the Self-Replication table         400 a record 401 with a “PSRR Address” field 403 equal to the         parameter CurrPSRR of the command. Then control is given to step         701 for handing any new future command.     -   At step 715, the next record of the Self-Replication Table 400         is set as the new current record 401 of this table. Then control         is given to step 706.

ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit, and scope of the invention.

The Persistently Self-Replication method and system according to the present invention may be used advantageously in those environments where elements of information are organised as multidimensional tables having more than three dimensions. 

1. In a method for persistently self-replicating multiple ranges of cells through a copy and paste operation in a multi dimensional spreadsheet comprising at least one page having a plurality of cells with content and identified by a cell address along each dimension, with the address of the top leftmost cell of said at least one page labelled A1, at least two self-replicating ranges (PSRR) of cells, each range containing at least one cell; at least two of said ranges comprising a self-replicating set (PSRS) and having different addresses relative to the top leftmost cell A1 of the respective page on which each of said ranges is located; wherein each time the content of a range of cells belonging to said set is updated, a self-replication operation is automatically performed, said self-replication operation comprising the steps of: (1) automatically copying the changed range of cells onto a buffer; (2) automatically defining the set of ranges of cells to which the changed range of cells belongs; (3) automatically identifying the ranges of cells belonging to said set; (4) establishing a self replication table containing a PSRR address, a PSRR pattern, a PSRS name, a set and range indices, and having a top record; (5) setting the top record of the self replication table as the current record; and (6) comparing the current record of the self replication table with the address of the range of cells that is updated; the step of automatically updating all other PSRRs within a persistent self replicating set (PSRS) by: a) detecting a PSRR content update; b) retrieving the address of the updated PSRR; and c) pasting the updated range of cells into the range of cells pointed by the PSRR address field of the current record of the self replication table.
 2. The method according to claim 1 further including the steps of adding a new range of cells to said set of ranges of cells, wherein said step of adding comprises selecting a new range of cells; and creating a link between the new range of cells with at least one range of cells belonging to said set of ranges of cells.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of defining a set of ranges of cells further comprises the step of: performing a persistent copy operation on a first range of cells, wherein said persistent copy operation comprises the steps of: selecting a first range of cells; copying the selected first range of cells onto a buffer; performing a persistent paste operation, wherein said persistent paste operation comprises the steps of: selecting at least one other range of cells; and for each other selected range of cells, copying the content of said buffer onto each others' selected range of cells; and creating a link between each other range of cells and the first range of cells.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of performing a persistent copy operation further comprises the step of invoking a persistent copy command; and wherein the step of performing a persistent paste operation further comprises the step of invoking a persistent paste command.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of defining a set of ranges of cells further comprises the steps of: storing in a table a name for identifying said set of ranges of cells; storing in said table, means for identifying each range of cells belonging to said set; and creating a link in said table between the name of the set and said means for identifying each range of cells belonging to said set.
 6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the step of defining a set of ranges of cells further comprises the step of associating the ranges of cells belonging to said defined set with set dependent display attributes.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of associating the ranges of cells belonging to said defined set, further comprises the steps of: associating a first variable with said set of ranges of cells; setting said first variable to a set dependent value; and displaying the ranges of cells of said set with current attributes according to the value of said first variable.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of storing in said table said current attributes, comprises the further steps of: associating a second variable with each range of cells; and setting said second variable to a value associated with said current attributes.
 9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of removing a range of cells from the set of ranges of cells, wherein the step of removing said range of cells further comprises the steps of: retrieving the current attributes associated with said range of cells; and displaying said range of cells with said current display attributes.
 10. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of storing an identifying name in said table includes means for identifying each range of cells belonging to said set, and further includes, for each range of cells belonging to said set, the steps of: determining current attributes of said range of cells; storing in said table said current attributes; and associating in said table the range of cells with the current attributes.
 11. A method of implementing a software product for a client, the software product capable of persistently self-replicating multiple ranges of cells through a copy and paste operation, in a multi dimensional spreadsheet comprising at least one page having a plurality of cells with content and identified by a cell address along each dimension, with the address of a top leftmost cell of each page labelled Al, a range of cells comprising one or a plurality of cells, the method comprising the steps of: providing first instruction code for defining a set of ranges of cells, each range of cells having the same size, and at least two of said ranges having different addresses relative to the top leftmost cell Al of the respective page on which each of said ranges are located; and providing second instruction code for detecting each time the content of a range of cells belonging to said set is changed, and automatically performing a self-replication operation, said self replication operation comprising the steps of: automatically copying the changed range of cells onto a buffer; automatically determining the set of ranges of cells to which the changed range of cells belongs; automatically identifying the ranges of cells belonging to said set; and automatically inserting the content of the buffer in each of identified range of cells belonging to said set by: a) detecting a PSRR content update; b) retrieving the address of the updated PSRR; and c) pasting the updated range of cells into the range of cells pointed by the PSRR address field of the current record of the self replication tablet; and utilizing a common repository to record data required to create, delete or rename a PSRS, to add a PSRR to a PSRS, or to suppress a PSRR from a PSRS, the recorded data including five fields comprising a PSRS name, a PSRR address, a PSRR pattern, a set index and a range index. 